Sports
Detroit Pistons legend Chauncey Billups made the Hall of Famer play “the right way”

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Portland Trail Blazers coach and former Detroit Pistons guard Chauncey Billups lives by the saying, “If it ain’t hard, it ain’t hard.” This phrase was stitched into his Adidas game shoes during his 17-year NBA profession.
Billups can be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame on Saturday has been officially announced before the NCAA Men’s Final Four games. He said his journey from Denver’s Park Hill neighborhood to the Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass., wasn’t easy and at one point was fraught with uncertainty.
Billups was chosen third overall in the 1997 NBA draft by the University of Colorado’s Boston Celtics. Then-coach Ricardo Patton remembered Billups as a young man who wanted to achieve the league.
“He was hungry early on. I think he set some lofty goals for himself at a very young age,” Patton said. Some players just need to get into the league. Chauncey never wanted to simply get there. He desired to help the team succeed and reach the pinnacle of the championship game. He wanted to depart his mark, his mark.”
Billups was the first overall draft pick under Rick Pitino in Boston. The Celtics traded him midway through his rookie season to the Toronto Raptors. The transition from Colorado to the league was not smooth.
Billups had turn into accustomed to dominating talent in his area, but joining a league with larger and smarter talent proved to be an issue. The former shutout spent the early years of his NBA profession as a journeyman, playing for 4 teams over five seasons and trying to seek out his way in the league.
“My fight just happened. It wasn’t anyone’s fault,” Billups said. “I worked hard. I put everything I could into it. I just wasn’t ready. It wasn’t like the coach hated it or anything, I just wasn’t quite ready. I needed work. I had to go back to the drawing board… I was performing poorly results and they had a lot of big, difficult expectations placed on me that I didn’t meet, so whatever they took as truth.”
Frank O’Brien/The Boston Globe via Getty Images
Amid uncertainty and increasing talk of being a draft bust, Billups identified weaknesses in his game. He worked along with his longtime coach Joe Abunassar to enhance his grip and decision-making, and likewise worked on ways to create space to shoot. The presence of experienced leaders Terrell Brandon and Sam Mitchell while Billups was with the Minnesota Timberwolves helped lay the foundation for the rest of his profession.
“Those guys got into me, so it wasn’t just me and my coach. So many people were trying to get me to do this,” Billups said. “That’s one of the reasons I was able to make this change.”
When Billups signed with the Detroit Pistons for the 2002-03 season, it finally worked. The former journeyman established himself as a starter and his shooting skills earned him the nickname “Mr. A giant deal.”
“When I got to Detroit, I was finally ready to lead and understand the game (and) understand how to play the position,” Billups said. “I used to be ready then. Once I got there, I just never looked back. That was the end. I figured it out.”
Patton believed that in Detroit, Billups had a lineup that matched the hunger he had seen in the teenage Colorado product nearly a decade earlier.
“One of the things I remember, or I remember him saying, was that there were players on the team that were hungry, players that maybe were struggling in other areas or with other teams,” Patton said. “They had a group of players who were all on the same page in terms of going out to prove they were worthy.”
In his first season with the Pistons, Billups recorded a brand new career-high of 16.2 points. Being part of a Pistons roster consistent with Billups’ personality, he believes the blue-collar mentality in the city is ingrained in the team.
“Let’s go to work. We’ve done everything we can, (then) we’re going home. There’s no glitz, no shine, no nothing,” Billups said. “Well, that’s what Detroit is all about; that’s what Detroit is all about this city (and) the fan base. It was just the perfect mix. That’s who Ben Wallace was as our leader when I got there, that’s who I am. So it was just a perfect marriage.”

Andy Hayt/NBAE via Getty Images
The highlight of his profession got here during his sophomore 12 months when the Pistons defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 4-1 in the NBA Finals to win their third NBA championship. This was Billups’ first and only NBA title, and he was named NBA Finals MVP.
“I was very proud that I wanted to show people the chip that I always played with, but I was very proud that I wanted to show people who I could be, so I wanted to win the championship,” Billups said. “I didn’t even care about Finals MVP, I just wanted to be able to lead my team to prove not only to myself but to the whole world that I would be who I said I would be. So that’s what it was for me.”
Billups’ induction makes him the second Pistons player from the 2004 championship team to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, joining Ben Wallace, who was a member of the class of 2021. Billups is also joined by Vince Carter, a member of the 1998 NBA draft class. , players Seimone Augustus, Michael Cooper, Walter Davis, Dick Barnett and Michele Timms; coaches Charles Smith, Harley Redin and Bo Ryan; broadcaster/coach Doug Collins; and owner Herb Simon.
In the six years since he became eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2018, this was Billups’ first 12 months as a finalist. He had been following the process for the past few years, but was never quite sure whether he would turn into a member of the Hall of Fame. Billup’s confidence grew when he became a finalist this 12 months. His introduction got here as no surprise to Patton.
“There was certainly no question in the minds of people who watched him play that he deserved to be a Hall of Famer,” Patton said.
After the results were announced in Glendale, Billups planned to fly to Boston to rejoin the Trail Blazers for Saturday’s game against the Celtics in the city where his skilled profession began. In the 27 years since he joined the league, he has amassed a protracted list of life lessons that he has passed on to his players.
“It’s something I actually have to show them backwards. For example, a man will start going through a difficult period, he’ll fight, or this is occurring, or this is occurring. That’s after I can talk over with them a couple of bit of my journey because I do not discuss myself as a player,” Billups said.
“This is my team and I promised myself that when I take over (and) start coaching, I will never talk about myself and what I have done. Anyway, I’m not that type of person. But I think what I went through is very valuable in certain situations when these guys go through it, and that’s part of why I wanted to do it, because I know I have so much and I’ve been through so much. very much that I can help so many of these guys. So I just pick my spots and when I try to give them that. I know it can help them.”
During his 17 seasons in the NBA, from 1997 to 2014, Billups was a five-time All-Star, a two-time All-NBA Defensive Team member and a three-time All-NBA Player. He played in 1,043 games with the Celtics, Toronto Raptors, Minnesota Timberwolves, Detroit Pistons, Denver Nuggets, New York Knicks and LA Clippers, ending with profession averages of 15.2 points, 2.9 rebounds and 5.4 assists.
“We will not win a third NBA championship without Chauncey’s leadership,” former Pistons guard and Hall of Famer Joe Dumars said in an announcement. “When the ball was in his hands, you just knew he was going to make the right play.”
Billups said all the things he’s completed in sports has been by playing the right way.
“I wasn’t chasing stats, otherwise I’m going to get 35, average 25 and 10,” Billups said. “I wasn’t that player. Most people don’t think they will achieve their goals, earn a living, get this and that if they only play the right way.
“When I say ‘play the right way’, I’m playing for my team. I didn’t play to get the All-Star game (or) on the cover. I played to win and make my teammates better. By doing this, I achieved All-Star status. Playing this way, I won the championship. Now I’ve made the Hall of Famer play this way. Whether it got me into the Hall of Fame or not, I just found solace in playing that way.”
Sports
Baseball celebrates Jack’s Heritage Robinson on the 78th anniversary of the Breaking Color barrier

Jackie Robinson He was the first to interrupt the colourful baseball barrier from Brooklyn Dodgers 78 years ago on Tuesday. His heritage still inspires people in the essential leagues – and out of doors.
Players and employees of Dodgers, including Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts and Debutant Roki Sasaki, and Colorado Rockies surrounded the statue of Robinson in the Centerfield Plaza Plaza just a few hours before the match in Los Angeles on Jackie Robinson around the essential leagues.
They were joined by Basketball Hall of Fame, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who turns 78 on Wednesday. He remembered how he worn a baseball cap in Brooklyn, growing up in the neighboring Manhattan district.
“I fought with people of giants, Yankee, quite often,” he said, “but I was holding a hat and no one was able to reject it. I was so tall.”
Abdul-Jabbar followed in the footsteps of Robinson as a sports star in Ucla, known at the time as Lew Alcindor, where he won the three national championships at the coach of Hall of Fame, John Wooden.
Robinson was still an inspiration for Abdul-Jabbar.
“He meant perfection, giving his best, giving his best,” said Abdul-Jabbar, “And for all critics who are there, simply ignore and continue them.”
Each team playing on Monday wore T -shirts No. 42. This is the only number widely withdrawn in the essential directions.
“It’s not just a one-time day,” said Dave Roberts, Dodgers manager. “We understand what this man has done for our world, our country. You strive to live. This is something for me, maintaining his heritage.”
Roberts and Ron Washington from Los Angeles Angels are currently only black managers.
“One of the things that Jackie apparently nailed is to realize that life will be difficult,” said Roberts. “He was unique and was put in this certain position to rise above and know that it is not just about the baseball game. He is bigger than him.”
Sonya Pankey Robinson, the eldest grandson of Jackie and Rachel Robinson and the only child of Jackie Jr., who was killed in a automobile accident in 1971 at the age of 24, joined the Dodgers and Rocks. Grandson Ayo Robinson, whose father is David Robinson, was also at hand.
“He was so progressive in so many ways,” said Pankey Robinson about her grandfather. “When I think about him tenderly, I just think about all his contribution to society and us as a family. I feel true responsibility for maintaining his value and I am very seriously approaching this work.”
The 102-year-old widow of Robinson meant an anniversary at the Jackie Robinson Museum in Brooklyn with the commissioner of Rob Manfred.
“Looks great and welcomes everyone,” said Pankey Robinson. “She not only instilled in values that, as my grandfather knows, expects us to maintain, but she had her own values and her own expectations about us early to set goals in life”
Pankey Robinson lives near his grandmother in New York, saying: “We keep him close and tight.”

Robinson was in the news Last month, when the defense department’s side describing his military service was restored after she was missing briefly. The department removes content, emphasizing the contribution of women and minority groups under the Directive for the administration of President Donald Trump with a view to remove materials promoting diversity, justice and inclusion.
“The repulsive but not discouraged, because I think that what he did is engraved in history and this is not the place where it removed it,” said Pankey Robinson after the ceremony. “His influence is large and we feel good, knowing that although disappointed, what he did was important.”
Angels Washington learned about Robinson when he bought a book about him during the bus stop in Waterloo, Iowa during a small journey in the league in 1972.
“It influenced me enormously to find out what he had to go to play with a baseball game,” said Washington. “And then you look back and say:” Wow, during this era could I do it? ” I want to think I can, but I don’t know if I could. “
Aaron Boone, a New York York manager, called Robinson “one of the most important figures in the history of America.”
“Of course, he was part of the integration of our sport, but part of the further integration of America and other sports. It’s so cool that we can do today, and everyone wears 42, paying attention to it and simply honor the amazing heritage.”
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Sports
Kyren Lacy, NFL Hopefful and former football star of LSU, dead with apparent suicide

Ex Louisiana State University (LSU) Footballer, Kyren Lacy, was discovered dead on April 12 about apparent suicide, in response to local cops in Houston.
According to ESPN, the 24-year-old wide receiver was avoidance Policemen after a member of the family called and said that he had just fired a weapon. The authorities of Harris said that policemen were chasing him and Lacy smashed his vehicle. When they approached the extraction of it from the automobile, they found that he died because of something that gave the impression to be a self -proclaimed gunshot wound. Rescuers announced him dead on the scene.
LSU published a press release regarding the death of the player.
“We are saddened when we learn about the tragic departure of a former Football-Football-Spatlete Kyren Lacy student,” said LSU in a written statement. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones, as well as his former teammates and coaches whom his death affected.”
The Football Football family mourns the loss of Kyren Lacy pic.twitter.com/me2gbz6ao8
– LSU football (@LSUFOOTBALL) April 13, 2025
Lacy was accused of responsibility for the death of a 78-year-old man, when he allegedly caused the disaster on December 17, 2024. The incident took place in Louisiana, and the authorities claim that Lacy had escaped from the scene, without giving a person or calling cops. He closed himself to cops on January 12 and was accused of neglecting the murder, crime and running and reckless operation of the vehicle. He was released in the quantity of $ 151,000, in accordance with police acts.
The great jury was to start out on April 14.
“We deeply confirm the tragic departure of Kyren Lacy. First of all, we ask that society and media give his family space and time needed to sadden this unimaginable loss in the room,” said Lacy’s lawyer, Matthew Ory.
informed that together with a press release for the Society Ory apparently placed Part of the fault for prosecutors for the implementation of the case wherein he was convinced that Lacy can be released and wouldn’t be accused after the evidence was provided.
“From the very beginning, the so-called investigation has taken on the appearance of an overzealous, targeted effort-what can only be described as a witch hunting-grayed on who Kyren was and the public profile he wore.”
“Kyren was a young man with an enormous promise and was crushed under the load of the irresponsible and prejudiced trial. A negative dam in social media, his Mugshot’s circulation by almost every rest, not a typical photo, a recent civil law lawyer, he lodged against them, who called one other defendant who was not accused of the crime, but the final tone The photo before she was not a probability that was rigorously defended, which was once.
According to ESPN, on December 19, two days after a tragic accident, Lacy declared for the NFL project. Once expected as a 6 -person potential ESPN receiver in December, after this incident, in a recent projection, last month he fell out of the highest ten.
Lacy played three seasons in LSU and had his best season last yr. He caught 58 passes on 866 yards and led a team with nine application.
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Sports
Black Sportswriters Hall of Fame to honor three legendary journalists in the inaugural event

History and heritage will probably be fully exhibited, because three legendary black athletes will probably be honored on April 12 in the inaugural class of Black Sportswriters Hall of Fame in North Carolina A & t.
The inaugural induction ceremony of the Black Sportswriters gallery will happen at Deese Ballroom on Saturday at 18:00, and tickets might be purchased online. Rob Parker, the first black sports columnist in The, developed an idea after conducting a master baseball class in North Carolina A&T in the spring of 2023.
“We have so many great current and former black sports athletes, and I have been working for 39 years and I know many of them, I work with many of them, and we have not received recognition for what we bring to the company,” said Parker. “I wanted to make sure that everyone is appreciated and people who are perfectly recognized.”
Mitchell Leff/Getty Images
William C. Rhoden, sports columnist for ESPN and Scape and former columnist; Michael Wilbon, co -hosting ESPN’s interruption and former columnist; A Claire Smith, the first woman who included Major League Baseball for Hartford Count, will probably be three inductes recognized on Saturday.
Thirty -two voters could nominate everyone, and every recipient needed a minimum of 75% of votes to win.
“If you told me before starting to vote, I could choose these three – the first three people who should come in – all three (that) they did it because Bill Rhoden, Claire Smith and Mike Wilbon are the three best who ever did it, so it’s amazing that they enter as the first induction class,” said Parker.

Michael Stewart/Wireimage
The event will happen at North Carolina A&T, because Parker was moved by students and their fascination with the sports journalism industry.
“The reason I chose North Karolina A&T was a few years ago, I made a master baseball class and I was very impressed with students and their questions and their concentration on MasterClass and the program of journalism as a whole,” said Parker. “I thought it would be a great place to present journalism in North Carolina A&T.”
Rhoden revealed his enthusiasm to the award.
“I am honored that I am included in the company of those as great as Claire Smith – which I have known for years – and Michael Wilbon – whom I have known for years – and the fact that this is the inaugural effort of sport, Rob Parker, whom I have known for years. This is simply a wonderful and unique honor,” said Rhoden.
Rhoden is the only recipient with a historically black college and university (HBCU).
“This means that Morgan (Stan) was great for me,” said Rhoden. “It was for me and the place where I was supposed to go. We all choose different paths to achieve our goals, but Morgan was an ideal place for me and my temperament and I met a person who started a journalistic career.”
When Parker sent a notification and voting for Black Sportswriters Gall of Fame, Smith felt humiliated when she realized that so many her peers, mentors and heroes took her into the conversation of the best sports journalistic company.
“When he informed me about the result of voting, I really returned to me, because, as I said, there were countless people at the vote, and even more people I met for 47 years, I think Hall of Famers,” said Smith. “And voting with this honor by my peers – I think my peers are Hall of Famers and voted for the inaugural occupation – they blew me up.”
For Rhoden, mentors like Lacy himself, the sports editor of the African American newspaper, and even Smith influenced his profession and helped to shape him in the sport she is today.
“There are many unknown heroes, such as Lacy himself, whom many people never know, but they really influence you,” said Rhoden. “There are so many people along the way. It is very important that people in your corner who will inform you that you are on the right track.”
Smith recognized Lacy and Larry Whiteside, a well -known baseball author that helped her achieve a distinction in her profession.
“Larry was always with me when I met him,” said Smith. “Larry or, as we called him on the sides,” he was simply someone I could watch and observe how he works on his craft and turned out to be an absolute art when it comes to writing, after which at all times have time to talk to the next generation. “

AP Photo/Rich Schultz
“Original six” pioneering athletes and editors – including Lacy, Whiteside, Wendell Smith, Bryan Burwell, Thom Greer and Ralph Wiley – will probably be posthumously honored in Hall of Fame.
“We want them to be honored as a group and we want the first six we put together,” said Parker. “We want to make sure that we remember the past, but we also want to celebrate people when they live when they can touch students at school, so this is the main goal of this.”
Smith said: “To mention this in the same sentence as Lacy and Wendell Smith is amazing. I remember how a baby seeing the newspaper delivered to the home of my grandparents in Catonsville, Maryland, after which I spotted that there are two differing kinds of newspapers in cities akin to Baltimore: historically black newspapers, after which most traditional newspapers.
“So quickly until 2025 and you see their names already in Hall of Fame and you know that in just a few days Bill and Mike and I, our names will be mentioned next to them – it’s just … humiliating.”
Parker hopes to extend Hall of Fame to the ceremony, special and championship events, in order that students can mix them with mentors.
“I hope that there will be several (events) … More things for students who will be able to learn from the best,” said Parker. “Combining students with mentors is the goal of Galeria Sława Black Sportswriters.”
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